Washboard



Pra-'tentensg'pt.t27,' |898.

Nof 615529.

f. C. SWAHTH..

' wAsHBQAnD.

(Application led May 14, 1896.)

(No Model.)

minimum? giunga .l

"ull www Nrrnn FFICE@ AUGUST C. SWARTH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ratentno. 611,529, uatu september 27, 1898.

Application nea Mayu, 1896. serial No. 591.527. (No maar) To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST C. SWARTH, a subject of the Queen ofthe Netherlands, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVashboards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of washboards in which soap-holding boxes are employed, provided with means for holding a cake of soap on a level with the rubbing-surface of the board.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the soap may be moved posi- .tively to and from the opening in the rubbing-surface and means whereby the cake of soap will be held in engagement with the moving mechanism.

The invention consists of .a washboard Aprovided with an opening, a soap box or receptacle secured thereto adjacent to said opening, a plunger havinga screw-threaded shank extending through a threaded opening in the cover of said receptacle, and looped engaging portions upon the forward end of said plunger.

The invention also consists in other details of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specication, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the front or rubbing surface of my board. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the rear side thereof Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the lid or door of the soap-holding receptacle and the plunger operating therewith, the parts thereof being slightly separated one from the other.

Like referencenumerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The washboard comprises a frame 1 and a corrugated rubbing-surface 2, `of zinc or other suitable material, having a rectangular opening 3 extending therethrough at a point adjacent to its upper end. Secured to the rear side of the board adjacent to the opening 3 is a upon the receptacle.

soap-holding box or receptacle 4, the inner lsurface of which is preferably lined with tin or `other sheet metal. Hinged to one of the sides of the box or receptacle 4 is alid or cover, having suitable securing means thereon where- ;by thesame may be locked in closed position Extending through a `threaded opening in the door 5 is a threaded shank 6, having a milled or `knurled head 7 upon its outer end. `The inner end `thereof has securedto it a disk 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The threaded rod or shank 6 constitutes, with the plates 9, 10 and 11, a plunger wherebya cake of soap inserted in the box or receptacle 4 may be delivered to or drawn from the rubbing-surface `2 adjacent to the opening 3. The plates 9, `10, and 11 are the saule size and shape as the box or receptacle 4 and are adapted to move freely therein. The same are secured one to the'other with the plate 10,' located between. the plates 9 and 11. The said plate 10 is provided with a central circular opening 1.2, in

which iits and moves the disk S upon the shank 6. By this construction it will be observed that when the head 7 is turned in one direction or the other the disk 8 will bear against the rear or under surface of the' plate `11, forcing the plunger inwardly or upon the the outer or upper surface of the plate 1l looped wires 13 and 14, which constitute en' gaging portions adapted to be inserted into the Vrear or under side of the cake of soap. The loops 13 are vertically disposed, and the loop 14, located between them, is horizontally disposed, so that upward or downward or'lateral movement of the cake of soap with respect to the plunger is effectually prevented.

In order to allow the escape of the water entering the opening 3 and theV soap box or receptacle 4 from the outside of the rubbing- IOC surface 2, I provide in the door 5 a series of perforations 15 15.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that by my invention I am enabled to move the cake of soap in the receptacle 4 by a positive action to or from the rubbingsurface 2 of the washboard and that by the provision of the engaging portions or loops 13 and 14 lateral movement or upward-anddownward movement or outward movement of the cake of soap with respect to the plunger is effectually avoided.

I-Iaving now described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a washboard having an opening in the rubbing-surface thereof, a soap-holding box or receptacle upon the rear side of said board communicating with said opening, a positively-movable plunger in said opening, and a plurality of looped Wires constituting engaging portions for the soap upon the end of said plunger.

' 2. In a washboard having an opening in the rubbing-surface thereof, a soap-holding-boX or receptacle upon the rear side of said board `communicating with said opening, a positively movable plunger in said opening, and a plurality of looped Wires constituting engag ing portions for the soap upon the end of said y plunger, the said looped wires being arranged AUGUST C. SWARTII.

Witnesses:

B. P. REYNOLDS, GEO. BUHHoFF. 

